title: Lumpy skin disease of cattle: an emerging problem in the Sultanate of Oman.
abstract: Lumpy skin disease (LSD) is a highly infectious disease of cattle caused by a virus belonging to the Capripoxvirus genus of the family Poxviridae. The purpose of this study is to place on record the first confirmation of LSD in the Sultanate. The disease was diagnosed and confirmed using polymerase chain reaction, histopathology, transmission electron microscopy and serum neutralization testing. The epizootic occurred in 2009 involving a large number of animals and covering a wide area including Nezwa, Alqabel, Sohar, Saham and Burimi. Morbidity and mortality rates of 29.7 and 26.3 %, and 13.6 and 15.4 % were observed at Nezwa and Sohar, respectively. The clinical signs were much more severe in Holstein-Friesian cattle compared to indigenous breeds and were characterized by multiple skin nodules covering the neck, back, perineum, tail, limbs and genital organs. Affected animals also exhibited lameness, emaciation and cessation of milk production. Oedema of limbs and brisket, and superficial lymph node enlargement were highly prominent. It is not known from where the virus originated, or how it spread to the Sultanate. The disease has become endemic in the country and is liable to extend to other Gulf Cooperation Council Countries and cause a pandemic. It is of major concern to the Omani dairy industry. Due to the widespread presence of screw worm, serious economic losses can follow outbreaks.
authors.affiliation: Department of Animal and Veterinary Sciences, College of Agricultural and Marine Sciences, Sultan Qaboos University, P.O Box 34, PC 123, Muscat, Sultanate of Oman, tage@squ.edu.om.
authors.forename: Mohamed Hassan
authors.initials: MH
authors.lastname: Tageldin
authors.forename: David Brian
authors.initials: DB
authors.lastname: Wallace
authors.forename: Gertruida Hermanna
authors.initials: GH
authors.lastname: Gerdes
authors.forename: John Fraser
authors.initials: JF
authors.lastname: Putterill
authors.forename: Roelf Rudolph
authors.initials: RR
authors.lastname: Greyling
authors.forename: Maanda Noaxe
authors.initials: MN
authors.lastname: Phosiwa
authors.forename: Rashied Mohammed
authors.initials: RM
authors.lastname: Al Busaidy
authors.forename: Sultan Issa
authors.initials: SI
authors.lastname: Al Ismaaily
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D018151:Capripoxvirus; D002417:Cattle; D021821:Communicable Diseases, Emerging / Q000662:veterinary*; D004196:Disease Outbreaks / Q000662:veterinary; D008166:Lumpy Skin Disease / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000401:mortality / Q000473:pathology; D009850:Oman / Q000453:epidemiology; D016133:Polymerase Chain Reaction / Q000662:veterinary; D012867:Skin / Q000473:pathology / Q000648:ultrastructure / Q000821:virology